PSYCHOSOCIAL MILESTONES IN NORMAL PUBERTY AND ADOLESCENCE

Puberty and adolescence are not generally times of great stress and tu rmoil. The storm-and-stress theory has a long history, but can no long er be supported by recent empirical research. A modern approach to the psychosocial changes of these phases is based on the concept of devel opmental tasks in an age-appropriate and. stage-appropriate way. Biolo gical processes can influence an individual's psychological and psycho social state, but psychological and psychosocial events may also influ ence the biological systems. Therefore, the timing and outcome of pube rtal processes can be modified by psychosocial factors. The most impor tant psychological and psychosocial changes in puberty and early adole scence are the emergence of abstract thinking, the growing ability of absorbing the perspectives of viewpoints of others, an increased abili ty of introspection, the development of personal and sexual identity, the establishment of a system of values, increasing autonomy from fami ly and more personal independence, greater importance of peer relation ships of sometimes subcultural quality, and the emergence of skills ac id coping strategies to overcome problems and crises. Ah these changes can be looked on as developmental tasks during normal development, bu t they can also help in understanding developmental deviations and psy chopathological disorders. From the viewpoint of developmental psychop athology, several psychiatric disorders of puberty and adolescence can be seen in a new light.